Topic Contents

Covers finger, hand, and wrist problems caused by medical conditions and overuse. Offers symptom check list. Includes worksheet to help you decide when to call a doctor. Offers home treatment and prevention tips.

Finger, Hand, and Wrist Problems, Noninjury

Topic Overview

Everyone has had a minor problem with a finger, hand, or wrist. Most of the
time our body movements do not cause problems, but it's not surprising that
symptoms occur from everyday wear and tear or from overuse. Finger, hand, or wrist
problems can also be caused by injuries or the natural process of aging.

Your fingers, hands, or wrists may burn, sting, or hurt, or feel tired, sore,
stiff, numb, tingly, hot, or cold. Maybe you can't move them as well as usual,
or they are swollen. Perhaps your hands have turned a different color, such as
red, pale, or blue. A lump or bump might have appeared on your wrist, palm, or
fingers. Home treatment is often all that is needed to relieve your
symptoms.

Finger, hand, or wrist problems may be caused by an
injury. If you think an injury caused your problem, see the topic
Finger, Hand, and Wrist Injuries. But there are many
other causes of finger, hand, or wrist problems.

Overuse problems

Tendon pain is
actually a symptom of tendinosis, a series of very small tears (microtears) in
the tissue in or around the
tendon. In addition to pain and tenderness, common
symptoms of tendon injury include decreased strength and movement in the
affected area.

Bone, muscle, or joint problems

Dupuytren's disease is an abnormal thickening of tissue beneath the skin in the palm
of the hand or hands and occasionally the soles of the feet. The thickened skin
and tendons (palmar fascia) may eventually limit movement or cause the fingers
to bend so that they can't be straightened. See a picture of
Dupuytren's contracture.

Ganglion cysts are small sacs (cysts) filled with
clear, jellylike fluid that often appear as bumps on the hands and wrists but
can also develop on feet, ankles, knees, or shoulders. See a picture of a
ganglion.

Lupus is a long-lasting autoimmune
disease in which the immune system attacks normal body tissues as though they
were foreign substances. It may cause joint pain.

Gout is an inflammatory joint disease that causes
acute pain and swelling. It is a form of arthritis that develops when uric acid
crystals form in and around the joints, commonly affecting the big toe
joint.

Raynaud's phenomenon is a condition in
which some areas of the body, usually the fingers or toes, have an extreme
response to cold temperature or emotional stress. During an attack of
Raynaud's, the blood vessels in the affected areas tighten, severely limiting
the flow of blood to the skin, causing numbness, tingling, swelling, pain,
and pale color.

Infection can cause pain, redness, and
swelling that occur with red streaking, heat, fever, or the drainage of pus. An
infection often causes tenderness to the touch or pain with movement at the
site of the infection.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and
illness. Some examples in adults are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease,
and HIV/AIDS.

Long-term alcohol and drug
problems.

Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety
of conditions.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for
cancer.

Other medicines used to treat autoimmune
disease.

Medicines taken after organ transplant.

Not
having a spleen.

Pain in adults and older children

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain
is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and
can't do anything else except focus on the pain.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your
normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days.
Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's
there.

Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain,
but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and
arrange for care.

If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have
one, seek care in the next hour.

You do not need to call an
ambulance unless:

You cannot travel safely either by driving
yourself or by having someone else drive you.

You are in an area
where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The
problem probably will not get better without medical care.

Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms
and arrange for care.

If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't
have one, seek care today.

When an area turns blue, very pale, or cold, it can mean that there has been a sudden change in the blood
supply to the area. This can be serious.

There are other reasons
for color and temperature changes. Bruises often look blue. A limb may turn
blue or pale if you leave it in one position for too long, but its normal color
returns after you move it. What you are looking for is a change in how the area
looks (it turns blue or pale) and feels (it becomes cold to the touch), and
this change does not go away.

Symptoms of infection may
include:

Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or
around the area.

Red streaks leading from the area.

Pus draining from the area.

A fever.

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind
of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older
adults tend to get sicker quicker.

Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart
disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care
sooner.

Medicines you take. Certain
medicines, herbal remedies, and supplements can cause symptoms or make them
worse.

Recent health events, such as surgery
or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them
more serious.

Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug
use, sexual history, and travel.

Pain in children 3 years and older

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain
is so bad that the child can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep,
and can't do anything else except focus on the pain. No one can tolerate severe
pain for more than a few hours.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt the child's normal activities and
sleep, but the child can tolerate it for hours or days.

Mild pain (1 to 4): The child notices and may complain of the pain,
but it is not bad enough to disrupt his or her sleep or activities.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

Severe pain (8 to 10): The
pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries
constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or
grimace.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is
very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds
when you try to comfort him or her.

Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds
when you try to comfort him or her.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need
emergency care.

Call911or other emergency services now.

Make an Appointment

Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical
care.

Make an appointment to see your doctor in the
next 1 to 2 weeks.

If appropriate, try home treatment while you
are waiting for the appointment.

If symptoms get worse or you have
any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.

Aspirin (also a nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug), such as Bayer or Bufferin

Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and
forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When you switch between two
medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine.

Safety tips

Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine:

Carefully read and follow all directions
on the medicine bottle and box.

Work posture and body mechanics

Organize your work so that you can change your
position occasionally while maintaining a comfortable
posture.

Position your work so you do not have to turn excessively
to either side.

Keep your shoulders relaxed when your arms are
hanging by your sides.

When using a keyboard, keep your forearms
parallel to the floor or slightly lowered and keep your fingers lower than your
wrists. Allow your arms and hands to move freely. Take frequent breaks to
stretch your fingers, hands, wrist, shoulders, and neck. If you use a wrist pad
during breaks from typing, it's best to rest your palm or the heel of your hand
on the support, rather than your wrist.

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How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.